Thanksgiving

I have never been a huge fan of Thanksgiving.  Turkey was never at the top of my list of favorite foods and now that Bryan & I are vegetarians – I don’t see the point in a big turkey dinner with all the fixings.  Thanksgiving for me has long been a place-holder for guaranteed family time between the calm kick-off of Halloween & the mad-dash of Christmas, which I consider the 3 months of holidays.  On the topic of Thanksgiving I am neutral, I am Switzerland.

This year everything changed for us.  Our 4 year old spitfire, Connor, was diagnosed as a Type 1 Diabetic on Thanksgiving Day.  It was a shock for us.  It is still a shock for us. 

How could my perfect child that I brought home just four years earlier from the same hospital now be back with this life-changing news?  How could I not feel guilty for passing on the mutated genes that affected his entire body?

Although not a diabetic myself, I had knowledge of what he was about to experience.  My younger sister was diagnosed at age 7 as a Type 1 Diabetic.  Having grown up on the sidelines as a spectator to my sister’s life, I remember so much but would never know exactly what he was going through. 

The three days in the hospital last month are a blur.  The most vivid memory I have is crying every time Connor left the room to find a new DVD or join a visiting family member in the playroom.  I refused to cry in front of him.  He was being so strong & trying to understand the sudden game change.  The staff called him a Superhero & told him that his insulin shots were energy boosters to help him with his powers.  He loved the idea & took to the role immediately.  I know he secretly always thought he was special, now he had proof.

There is no fairy tale ending to this blog.  But I can say that things are getting better.  I don’t cry as much these days, although I still have my moments.   The most important thing we have found is that Connor is still Connor.  He is still his intelligent, witty, bold, inquisitive, silly, lovable self. 

And that we are blessed.  One thing you do come away with from a 3 day hospital stay in a Pediatric ward is that you are blessed your son is going to go home, back to his life – he just has to take 4 shots a day.  I cannot guarantee that all the parents on that floor could say the same.  For that reason alone, I would not trade places with anyone.  I love my boys (all three of them) and our life together.  I thank God everyday for what we have. 

I know that next year’s Thanksgiving will not be just a placeholder in the middle of the holidays, but the start of a new celebration – marking the anniversary of when we discovered the Superhero that lives within my son.  For that reason alone, I now look forward to celebrating Thanksgiving with my boys (all 3 of them).

My Super-Hero & his little Side-Kick